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שָׁבוּעוֹת
Shavuot 2026

Hebrew year 5786

The Festival of Weeks

May 22-23, 2026

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Pick a city to see its kosher restaurants, caterers, and bakeries around Shavuot 2026, then order meals or book catering directly with them.

Shavuot, the Festival of Weeks, falls exactly 50 days after Passover, marking the culmination of the Omer count. It is one of the three biblical pilgrimage festivals and celebrates two interconnected themes: the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, and the wheat harvest in the Land of Israel. According to tradition, the entire Jewish nation stood at Sinai and collectively received the Torah from God, making Shavuot the anniversary of the covenant between God and the Jewish people. The holiday is marked by all-night Torah study sessions (Tikkun Leil Shavuot), the reading of the Book of Ruth in synagogue, and the eating of dairy foods. Many synagogues are decorated with flowers and greenery, symbolizing the lush vegetation that miraculously bloomed on Mount Sinai when the Torah was given. In Israel, Shavuot is also associated with agricultural celebrations and the offering of first fruits (bikkurim).

Shavuot Traditions

How Jews observe Shavuot around the world.

Tikkun Leil Shavuot, an all-night Torah study session on the first evening of Shavuot

Reading the Book of Ruth in synagogue, which tells the story of a convert who embraced the Torah

Eating dairy foods throughout the holiday

Decorating the synagogue and home with flowers, plants, and greenery

Reading the Ten Commandments in synagogue as part of the Torah portion

Reciting Yizkor memorial prayers on the second day

Staying awake all night to 'repair' the tradition that the Israelites overslept on the morning of the giving of the Torah

Bikkurim (first fruits) celebrations, especially in Israeli agricultural communities

Shavuot Food Guide

Traditional foods and where to find them.

Cheesecake

The quintessential Shavuot dessert. New York-style, Israeli-style, no-bake, and layered cheesecakes appear at every Shavuot table. Kosher bakeries stock dozens of varieties leading up to the holiday.

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Blintzes

Thin crepes filled with sweetened cheese (often farmer cheese or ricotta), pan-fried until golden, and served with sour cream, berry compote, or powdered sugar. A beloved Ashkenazi Shavuot classic.

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Dairy Meals

Shavuot is the holiday of dairy. Lasagna, quiches, cheese bourekas, pizza, mac and cheese, and creamy pasta dishes all make appearances at Shavuot meals alongside the traditional desserts.

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Milk and Honey

The Torah describes the Land of Israel as 'a land flowing with milk and honey.' Dishes incorporating milk, cream, and honey are especially appropriate for Shavuot, connecting the holiday's themes of Torah and the Land.

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Kashrut Notes for Shavuot

Shavuot is a full Yom Tov; no work is permitted on the first day (first two days in the diaspora), observed like Shabbat with the allowance of cooking for same-day use
Dairy meals are the custom, but many families also serve a meat meal on Shavuot; if eating both, halachic separation of meat and dairy must be observed (separate dishes, waiting period between meals)
All dairy products must be kosher-certified, including cheeses, cream, butter, and milk
Chalav Yisrael (Jewish-supervised milk) is the standard for many communities; check local custom
Cheesecakes and blintzes from kosher bakeries and restaurants are widely available before Shavuot; order in advance as demand is high

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Shavuot FAQs

Common questions about Shavuot 5786.

When is Shavuot 2026?

Shavuot 2026 begins at sundown on Thursday, May 21, and is observed on Friday, May 22, and Shabbat, May 23, in the diaspora (one day, May 22, in Israel). It concludes at nightfall on Saturday, May 23.

Why do we eat dairy on Shavuot?

There are several explanations for the Shavuot dairy tradition. The most common is that when the Jews received the Torah at Sinai, they learned the laws of kosher slaughter for the first time. Since their existing dishes and cookware were not kosher, they ate dairy foods, which did not require special preparation. Another tradition links dairy to the verse describing the Torah as 'honey and milk under your tongue.' The gematria (numerical value) of the Hebrew word for milk (chalav) equals 40, corresponding to Moses' 40 days on Mount Sinai.

What is Shavuot?

Shavuot, meaning 'weeks,' is one of the three biblical pilgrimage festivals. It falls seven weeks (50 days) after Passover and celebrates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. It is also an agricultural holiday marking the wheat harvest and the offering of first fruits (bikkurim) in the ancient Temple. The holiday is observed with prayer, Torah study, festive dairy meals, and the reading of the Book of Ruth.

What is Tikkun Leil Shavuot?

Tikkun Leil Shavuot is the custom of staying awake the entire first night of Shavuot engaged in Torah study. The tradition developed from a Midrash that says the Israelites overslept on the morning God was to give the Torah, and Moses had to wake them. To 'repair' (tikkun) this, Jews stay up all night studying Torah, Talmud, and mystical texts, then pray the morning service at sunrise.

Why is the Book of Ruth read on Shavuot?

The Book of Ruth is read on Shavuot for several reasons. Ruth was a Moabite convert who chose to embrace the Torah and the Jewish people, echoing the Jewish nation's acceptance of the Torah at Sinai. The story takes place during the barley and wheat harvests, matching Shavuot's agricultural theme. Additionally, King David, Ruth's great-grandson, was born and died on Shavuot according to tradition.

Is Shavuot a day off from work?

Shavuot is a full Yom Tov (biblical holiday), and Jewish law prohibits work on Shavuot just as on Shabbat, with the exception of cooking for the holiday itself. In Israel, the first day is a public holiday. In the diaspora, the first two days are observed as Yom Tov. Observant Jews do not work, drive, or use electronics on these days.